Father 'shot dead teenage daughter he thought was a burglar'

A father has been arrested for allegedly shooting dead his own teenage
daughter after he apparently mistook her for a burglar, police in South
Africa said on Friday.

Photo: ALAMY

By Stewart Maclean

4:30PM GMT 04 Nov 2011

Collin Masilela, 49, was charged with murder after the 15-year-old schoolgirl died at the family's home.

Detectives said the father of one fired a shot into the dark late on Wednesday night when he heard noises in the garden and feared the house was being targeted by thieves.

He told officers he later realised he had actually shot dead his daughter as she returned home from a night out with friends. Police spokesman Leonard Hlathi said the man was arrested at the scene of the tragedy.

He said: "It appears that this man shot dead his only daughter.

"He told us that he was at home with his wife and heard noises in the garden late on Wednesday night.

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"He apparently believed the house was being targeted by crooks of some sort and wanted to defend himself so he fired a shot into the dark.

"However he later discovered the person he had hit was his daughter, who was returning home.

"She died at the scene and he was arrested later."

Masilela appeared on Thursday before a magistrate where he was formally charged with murder.

He was released on £80 (1,000 rand) bail and told to reappear in court on December 7.

Detectives said his daughter, who has not been named, died from a single gunshot wound.

Police launched a full investigation into the incident, which happened at the family's home near the town of Marble Hall in South Africa's Mpumalanga province.

Captain Hlathi said: "The man had a licensed firearm and he said he was trying to defend himself.

"No doubt evidence will be heard in court about what happened.

"At this stage it seems that it was him who killed the girl, although the full facts are not yet clear.

"We are investigating the matter.

"If he is telling the truth then this was a dreadful accident, but we must check in case there could be something more sinister at play. "He will return to court at a later date when the prosecution's case will be laid out."

The possession of firearms by members of the public is legally permitted in South Africa, where thousands of home owners keep guns for protection.

The distribution of weapons is controlled by licence. Owners are required to complete a proficiency examination and keep their firearms in a locked safe when not in use.